Obituary of Orella Marie Wooldridge

Orella was born on October 16, 1927 in Star, Idaho to Jeff and Lora Porter. Mother passed from this world on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. She was the youngest of 6 children and had 5 older brothers. She was born on the 6th birthday of her youngest brother, Oral. He was quite annoyed that he got a baby sister for his birthday instead of the little red wagon that he wanted. However, his annoyance passed swiftly. She was raised in the towns of Star & Meridian Idaho. In 1947 she came to Washington to visit her brothers Oral, Leo and her childhood friend Betty. It was while visiting Betty that she met Richard (Dick) Wooldridge. Betty’s husband, Bill Wooldridge, was Dick’s elder brother. Orella and Richard were married in Tacoma on August 9, 1947 and moved to Neah Bay where Richard worked in the logging industry. Orella had never seen so much rain, fog and endless trees. The cabin they lived in was only a few feet from the high tide mark. Mother said, “sometimes the fog was so thick that I could hear the water but not see it.” Orella was a homemaker with her 5 children; the family resided in McCleary & Shelton. She enjoyed family, reading, needlework and many kinds of puzzles. She volunteered at Mason General Hospital for nearly 30 years and was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary for many years as well. Orella was preceded in death by her husband Richard, son Tony (Wooldridge) Wyman, her parents Jeff and Lora Porter, her brothers Roy, Virgil, Leo, Earl and Oral Porter. She is survived by her daughter Lora Miklethun of Tucson, AZ, sons Hank Wooldridge of Shelton, WA, Roger Wooldridge of Milton, WA and John Wooldridge Union, WA. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Donations may be made to Mason General Hospital Auxiliary, P.O. Box 1668 Shelton, WA 98584 in Orella’s name.